-(y)in / -(y)iniz

Polite Commands

Level 2

Turkish uses -(y)in and -(y)iniz to turn a verb into a polite command. While -(y)in is standard for everyday courtesy, -(y)iniz is used for official instructions and public signs.

How It Works

In Turkish, using the bare verb stem (like Gel!) is a simple command reserved for close friends or children. To be polite or address a group, you must use these suffixes.

1. The Standard Polite Form: -(y)in
This is the most common form used in daily life. Use it with strangers, elders, or in shops.

  • Bak (Look) → Bakın
  • Gel (Come) → Gelin
  • Oku (Read) → Okuyun (Note the buffer -y-)

2. The Official/Formal Form: -(y)iniz
This form signals greater social distance and extreme formality. It is often found in written instructions, manuals, or public announcements.

  • Gir (Enter) → Giriniz
  • Bekle (Wait) → Bekleyiniz

3. Stem Vowel Changes
For the verbs demek (to say) and yemek (to eat), there are specific rules for the stem vowel 'e':

  • Yemek: The 'e' narrows to 'i' in both speech and writing: Yiyin / Yiyiniz.
  • Demek: In standard written Turkish, the 'e' does not change: Deyin / Deyiniz (though you may hear 'diyin' in casual speech).

4. Negation and Stress
To tell someone not to do something politely, place the negative suffix before the polite ending. Note that the word stress shifts to the syllable immediately before the negative suffix:

  • Yapmayın (Don't do [it])
  • Gitmeyiniz (Do not go [official])

Examples (5)

  1. Lütfen buraya oturun.

    Please sit here.

    Word by Word: Please here sit.

    Standard polite command using the -un variant (harmonizing with 'otur').

  2. Lütfen kemerlerinizi bağlayınız.

    Please fasten your seatbelts.

    Word by Word: Please seatbelts-your fasten.

    A formal announcement style using -(y)iniz.

  3. Kapıyı kapatın, lütfen.

    Close the door, please.

    Word by Word: Door-the close, please.

    A standard polite request to a single person or a group.

  4. Burada bekleyiniz.

    Wait here.

    Word by Word: Here wait.

    Often seen on signs in offices or hospitals; the -y- buffer is used because 'bekle' ends in a vowel.

  5. Geç kalmayın.

    Don't be late.

    Word by Word: Late stay-not.

    A negative polite command using -ma before the -y-in suffix.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the buffer consonant -y- when the verb ends in a vowel.

    Lütfen beklein.
    Lütfen bekleyin.

    When a verb stem ends in a vowel, you must insert the buffer consonant -y- before adding the polite suffix to avoid two vowels clashing.

  • Using the bare stem with strangers.

    Bana bak!
    Bana bakın!

    Using 'Bak!' (Look!) with someone you don't know well can sound rude or aggressive. Always use the polite form in social settings.

  • Incorrectly conjugating the verb 'yemek' or over-correcting 'demek'.

    Lütfen yeyin ve diyin.
    Lütfen yiyin ve deyin.

    The verbs demek and yemek behave differently. For 'yemek', the 'e' always changes to 'i' (yiyin). However, for 'demek', the standard written form remains 'deyin', even though you might hear 'diyin' in casual conversation.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-(y)in / -(y)inizLevel 2Polite Commands

Learn This First

To learn polite commands, you need to understand how to apply four-way vowel harmony to the suffix and how to use the buffer consonant -y- when a verb stem ends in a vowel. It is also helpful to already be familiar with the basic imperative form used for informal commands.